Reasons to Join the Timebank

Share your skills, and learn from the expertise of others. Loretta writes, “I house-sat for a woman who was a certified yoga instructor, and I spent my first Time Credits getting yoga lessons from her. It was a disaster at first; I fell on my rear end! But with her help, I tried it again, and now I love yoga. She was the right person at the right time.”

Give back in a wide variety of ways. Hannah writes, “Timebanking is a great way to give what little spare time I have to help others, and it makes me feel part of the community. In the months since I joined, I baked a birthday cake for an elderly woman’s husband, I rejuvenated another member’s garden, and every week now I help a blind woman by exercising her guide dog with long walks. I love that I can fit volunteering into my busy life, and also benefit from other people’s skills.”

Tap into a network of resourceful people. Jason writes, “Painting my basement was on my to-do list for longer than I care to admit. But after I joined Timebank, I asked for help … and six people showed up! It would have taken me an entire weekend to paint the basement alone, but the Timebank group finished it in 90 minutes! Timebanking is incredible, and I was able to meet some wonderful people that day.”

Get help for that project you might not be able to afford. Judy writes, “I tutored a child in math,” she said, “And the Time Credits I earned went to pay for a handyman to build shelves in my home. Without those Time Credits, I couldn’t have afforded that, and the mother of the child I tutored couldn’t have afforded to hire me. But with Timebank, it worked out for all of us.”

Expand your circle. In one Timebank, three members are linked in a meaningful way: There’s Sally, whose vision prevents her from driving or reading. But she loves to knit, and donates baby blankets to a local birthing center. There’s Murray, who visits Sally once a week to help her read her mail, and drive her on errands. And then there’s Monica, who is there for Murray when he needs computer help. Just one of many self-help networks designed to make life better.